At the conclusion of World War II, when the scope of the tragedy unleashed upon the Jewish people became known, there were many who felt the need to seek revenge against the perpetrators. One of the major offenders among these war criminals was Adolf Eichmann; he was a senior officer in the Nazi party, charged with facilitating and managing – with uncommon precision – the logistics of “the final solution.” Following the war, Eichmann managed to escape from the Allied Powers, and in 1950 made his way to Argentina under an assumed identity.

In 1960, Eichmann was abducted in a Mossad operation led by Isser Harel, who was assisted by a teamfrom the operational unit of the Shin Bet (General Security Services). Eichmann was smuggled out of Argentina and flown to Israel with the aid of an El Al plane and crew. The operation assured that he would be tried in Jerusalem, the capital of the sovereign Jewish state. Eichmann’s trial marked the first time that the story of the Holocaust survivors was revealed to the entire world; their memories and testimonies drew a picture of the human spirit elevated to heights of strength and nobility in the face of heinous crimes too horrible to fathom.

Mossad – Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations – chronicles for the first time the story of the abduction through documents illustrating details of the operation – an undertaking which had never before been attempted. The evidence on display in this exhibition represents a body of material gathered during this unprecedented operation. It is rightly heralded as a life-changing event in the history of the State of Israel and the entire world, when the heroic deeds of a few allowed others to raise their voices so that a doubting world would hear the truth.

The Mossad is lifting its veil of secrecy in order to educate those who were not alive during the Holocaust, as well as to salute the organizations and individuals in Israel and abroad who acted at great risk, and to give thanks to them and their families. A special thanks, also, to those whose names and identities must remain secret.

“Where there is no counsel, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” (Proberbs 11:14)

The exhibition has been arranged under the auspices of the Mossad – Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations